NTSB Calls on Canadians to Investigate Mid-Air Collision between Aircraft owned by FAA and NTSB Employees

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has taken the unusual step of asking Canada's Transportation Safety Board to lead the investigation into a mid-air collision that occurred in Northern Virginia on May 28, 2012. Canadian authorities were brought in because one plane was owned by a FAA employee, and the other plane was owned by an employer of the NTSB. The FAA employee survived the crash. Two people on the other plane were killed.

The NTSB press release is attached here, and this is a local CBS news report of the accident.

New Airline Passenger Regulations Take Effect This Week

Several new airline passenger rules take effect this week, implementing the FAA consumer rule originally issued in April 2011. This Press Release announces the new rules.

Among the rules going into effect:

1. All mandatory taxes/fees, including baggage fees, must be disclosed in published airline fares;

2. Passengers no longer have to pay to hold a reservation, or to cancel it within 24 hours of making a reservation, for travel booked a week in advance;

3. Passengers must be notified promptly of flight delays exceeding 30 minutes;

4. Baggage fees for lost bags must be refunded, and compensation has increased for being bumped from an oversold flight (these took effect in August 2011).